public awareness efforts of the project had a positive effect. Many people are aware of the existence and importance of monk seals, and complaints of local fishermen due to monk seal decreased after the completion of the project. This is mainly because of the decrease in number of local fishermen, as they shifted to tourism related activities as a source of income. There is also a decrease in fish farmers? complaints, since they started to use protective nets around their fish pools. However, due to rare incidents of monk seal attacks on fish farms, the opinion that monk seal damages fish nets and steals fish persists.

In general, attitude towards monk seal is more positive compared to the period before the project. Especially tourist facility owners and administrators are happy with the existence and conservation of the monk seal, since it has contributed to the promotion of the region. Municipality of Yalikavak, like Municipality of Foca, is eager to contribute to the efforts for conservation of the species. The Municipality of Foca, which is another top priority site for monk seals, has been very successful in using monk seals for the promotion of their district. They achieved to identify Foca and monk seals after many years of active participation and support for the conservation of the species. Municipality of Yalikavak wants to do the same. They have monk seal in the logo of the Municipality and a monk seal statue in the yard of Municipality building. However, they do not have the capacity to conduct studies or projects on monk seals and seek assistance from related bodies. Recently, the Municipality contacted to SAD-AFAG to cooperate in activities for conservation of monk seals. Another call for cooperation was made by a local NGO, Yalikavak Association of Hotel Owners and Tourist Facilities, during the course of the ex-post project study.

The outcomes of site and population survey studies conducted during the project filled the gap of knowledge on monk seals around Bodrum Peninsula. This was the first systematic study on monk seals conducted in the region. As a result of the findings of this project and other surveys carried later on, Kudur Peninsula, located across Yalikavak coast, was declared as 1st Degree Natural Site in 1999. 1st Degree Natural Site is one of the strongest protection statuses in Turkey. Official permissions given for construction of three large tourist facilities on the peninsula prior to the declaration were cancelled, and human settlement was prohibited within the Natural Site boundaries on the Kudur Peninsula.

Oil contamination clean-up efforts evolved into a bigger campaign in 1997, following the completion of the project. SAD-AFAG mobilized local NGOs and local administration to clean the contamination. They sought finance in Turkey and abroad, and achieved to generate funds to start the operation. They also provided know-how and cleaning materials from foreign private companies. Bodrum Volunteers allocated their 14meter trash boat for cleaning operation, which enabled the start of the first stage of the operation. During the course of the operation, Turkish Minister of Environment visited Cavus Island to see the severity of contamination, and decided to allocate the budget required to complete the operation. The rest of the operation was conducted by a private company with the assistance of SAD-AFAG. By the end of 1997, the whole contamination was removed and monk seals returned to their caves gradually in the following period. SAD-AFAG produced a 30 min. documentary film, ?Gumusluk ? Blue and Black?, which tells about the clean-up operation. SAD-AFAG also won the Henry Ford European Conservation Award in Turkey in 1997 because of the feasibility of the operation and positive inputs expected to be given to nature protection of marine and coastal areas in the peninsula.

As a follow up of the clean-up operation, SAD-AFAG developed a proposal with justification for regulation on navigation of vessels around the Ayvalik Islands, Foca Islands and Bodrum Peninsula and Island, which are all Important Monk Seal Sites except Ayvalik. According to the proposal, ships greater than 300 GT and ships carrying hazardous cargo (no matter what their tonnages are) should be banned to navigate between the mainland and adjacent islands around the above mentioned sites to ensure safety of navigation, life and environment. In 2001, the Undersecretariat for Maritime Affairs adopted the proposal, and Department of Oceanography and Navigation put it into force.

During and after the project, the Turkish national radio and TV channel (TRT) visited Yalikavak and made video shootings for a documentary TV series, ?Secrets of Deep Blue?. This very popular series was broadcasted several times on TRT channels (mainly TRT-2), and helped interested people become aware of existence and importance of monk seals at the national level.